General

This survey aims to understand how farmers in Henan Province use plastic mulch and how residual plastic film left in the soil affects crop yield. The research focuses on farmers’ usage habits, disposal methods, awareness of soil pollution, and attitudes toward biodegradable mulch. The survey was conducted both online and offline, targeting 30–50 farmers from different regions of Henan, including Nanyang, Sanmenxia, Zhumadian, Zhoukou, and Shangqiu. To ensure clarity and accessibility, most questions were designed as multiple-choice items, covering five main topics: basic information, mulch use, perceptions of residual film, awareness of biodegradable mulch, and open suggestions.

Bacground

Plastic film mulching has been widely used in agricultural production across China, especially in the central region such as Henan Province. It helps conserve soil moisture, regulate temperature, and increase crop yield. However, the excessive or improper use of plastic film has also led to the accumulation of residual plastic film (residual mulch) in farmland, which has become an emerging environmental concern. Residual mulch fragments can remain in the soil for years, reducing soil permeability, hindering root growth, and ultimately leading to yield reduction.

Given Henan’s role as one of China’s most important grain-producing regions, understanding local farmers’ plastic film use, disposal behaviours, and perceptions of its impacts is crucial. This survey aims to collect first-hand data on how farmers in Henan use plastic mulch, how they handle it after use, and their awareness of its environmental and yield-related consequences. The results will help assess the severity of plastic residue pollution and provide references for policymaking, sustainable farming promotion, and biodegradable mulch adoption.

Survey Design

This study was conducted through an online questionnaire targeting 30 to 50 farmers across various regions of Henan Province, including Sanmenxia, Nanyang, Zhumadian, Zhoukou, and Shangqiu. The questionnaire was designed to be simple and easy to understand, considering that some farmers may have limited formal education. Therefore, most questions were multiple-choice, allowing for quick and accurate responses on mobile devices or other online platforms.

The survey is divided into five main sections-Basic Information – demographic and farming scale data; Use of Plastic Mulch – types, purposes, and disposal methods; Perceptions of Residual Mulch and Yield Reduction – understanding and observed impacts; Awareness and Willingness to Use Biodegradable Mulch – acceptance and affordability; Additional Opinions – open-ended feedback for policy or technology suggestions. This design ensures both quantitative and qualitative insights into farmers’ practices and attitudes toward mulch use and residue management. The collected data will serve as an important reference for improving soil health management, agricultural sustainability, and residue control strategies in Henan Province.

Survey Execution

online survey This part, about 100 people, was being investigated by asking them 20 questions. The questionnaire mainly focuses on the farmers' attitudes and behaviours regarding the use of biodegradable mulch films in agricultural production. The reason we use the online survey is to without taking up too much of the busy farming season. And the use of online forms prevents us from using paper in order to preserve the environment.

Offline soil condition check  We chose the writer’s homeland to the investigation destination(Mianchi country, Sanmenxia, Henan province), and based on our observation, the surface soil moisture was generally moderate to low, with occasional short-term drought. Residual polyethene mulch fragments were widely present in the topsoil, varying among plots and often affecting water infiltration and root growth. Frequent mulch use but poor recovery appeared to contribute to unstable soil moisture conditions.

Data Analysis

This online survey, based on 96 farmer questionnaires from Sanmenxia, Zhumadian, Zhoukou, and Shangqiu in Henan Province, focused on three main aspects: mulch film usage habits, awareness of residual film impacts, and willingness to adopt eco-friendly alternatives. The results showed that most respondents were middle-aged or elderly laborers, primarily cultivating staple crops such as corn and wheat. Plastic mulch was widely used, with conventional polyethylene films still dominating. Residual film management was generally rough, though over 60% of farmers had basic awareness of its hazards, and nearly half believed it negatively affected soil compaction and seedling emergence. Notably, around 78% of respondents expressed willingness to use biodegradable mulch under policy subsidies, though price sensitivity remained high, with most accepting a cost premium of no more than 10%.